VORONEZH, Aug. 22 - The forecasted volume of standing orders for the new An-148 regional Ukrainian-Russian jet through the end of 2005 is estimated at $1.5 billion.

Aleksandr Sas, the manager of the An-148 program and promoter of the Russian financial leading company Ilyushin Finance Co., made a statement to that effect at the presentation of the project at OAO Voronezh aircraft building company during the international air show MAKS-2005.